METAL SLUG Ultimate Collection will bring 10 titles from the series to Xbox in 2027, including a rare location test build of the original game that was never officially released. The timing also lines up with METAL SLUG’s 30th anniversary, since the series first reached arcades in 1996.
An Xbox Wire announcement confirms that the collection will cover games from arcades, home consoles, and handheld platforms. Its most unusual inclusion is the location test version, which was used for public arcade testing during development and has never previously been available on a home console.
Alongside the original releases, the collection will give players more control over how they approach the action. Options include button layout, rapid-fire speed, difficulty, and time settings, while gameplay support features add infinite weapon ammo, mission selection, rewind, and quick save/load.
Replay tools will give the package more to do beyond clearing missions. Combat School Mode includes instructor conversations that change with mission performance, and the collection will also feature score and clear-time rankings, replay support, a visual gallery, and a sound player. Available features and modes will vary by title.
The collection is planned for 2027 and is already available to wishlist on Xbox. For fans who have only known the finished arcade release, the location test build may be the most curious reason to return to METAL SLUG’s explosive run-and-gun history.
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